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Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams TD has again raised the issue of regulation of the Dáil Bar following the latest dismissal of his concerns by an Oireachtas sub-Committee.

Mr Adams wrote to the Joint Sub Committee on Administration in February, taking issue with its contention that the Dáil Bar is a “parliamentary privilege”, and its belief that despite public concern following various controversies, that the “status quo” in relation to the bar’s non-regulation should remain.

The sub-Committee is chaired by Fine Gael TD Joe Carey and includes Emmet Stagg and Jack Wall of the Labour Party, Paul Kehoe and Martin Heydon of Fine Gael, John Browne of Fianna Fail, Independent TD Catherine Murphy and Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh who has supported Mr Adams’ position.

Gerry Adams said:

“The Sub-Committee, which is dominated by Government TDs, has re-affirmed its position that the Dáil Bar is a “privilege” for TDs and needs no regulation.

“This highlights how completely detached this Government is from the views of the general public.

“Most people, I would contend, believe that having a bar, that can open until any hour of the morning, in the Dáil, where important legislation affecting the lives of citizens is being debated, is an unacceptable anachronism in this day and age.

“The Dáil Bar should be regulated in the same way as any other bar. Once again, the Committee has failed to deal with an issue, which caused considerable public anger last year.

“The Committee is again demonstrating the arrogance that has marked this Government’s tenure - an attitude of dismissing the views and concerns of the public and political opposition alike, no matter what the issue.”